Isolation and functional characterization of DgZFP: a gene encoding a Cys sub(2)/His sub(2)-type zinc finger protein in chrysanthemum

• Published in: Molecular biology reports Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 1137 - 1142
• Main Authors: Liu, Qing-Lin, Xu, Ke-Dong, Ma, Nan, Zeng, Li, Zhao, Liang-Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2010
• Subjects: Amino acids; Chrysanthemum; Droughts; Ear; Flowers; Gene expression; Isoelectric points; Leaves; Nuclei; Roots; Salts; Seedlings; Sodium chloride; Stems; Tobacco; Transcription; Transgenic plants; Zinc finger proteins
• ISSN: 0301-4851; 1573-4978
• DOI: 10.1007/s11033-009-9886-7

A Cys sub(2)/His sub(2)-type zinc finger protein gene, DgZFP, was isolated from chrysanthemum by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approach. The DgZFP encodes a protein of 211 amino acids residues with a calculated molecular mass of 22.9kDa and theoretical isoelectric point is 8.59. DgZFP contains two Cys sub(2)/His sub(2)-type zinc finger motifs, one nuclear localization domain, one Leu-rich domain, and one ethylene-responsive element-binding factor (ERF)-associated amphiphilic repression (EAR) domain. The transcript of DgZFP was enriched in flowers than in roots, stems, and leaves of the adult chrysanthemum plants. The gene expression was strongly induced by NaCl, drought and cold treatment, and weakly by ABA treatment in the seedlings. Subcellular localization revealed that DgZFP was localized preferentially distributed to nucleus. Overexpression of DgZFP improved salt tolerance and resulted in growth suppression in transgenic tobacco. We argued that DgZFP is a new member of the Cys sub(2)/His sub(2)-type zinc finger protein genes, and it maybe function as a regulator in response to salt stress in plants.